Passengers would pay more for far less convenient travel

One of Lindbergh Field's attributes is its convenience. Passengers can park close to terminals, check their bags at the curb and walk a relatively short distance to departure gates. But under the costly airport overhaul proposed by former state Sen. Steve Peace and endorsed by Mayor Jerry Sanders, this ease of travel would evaporate.

The plan calls for travelers to check in at terminals on the north side of the airport near Pacific Coast Highway. Then, passengers and their luggage would have to be shuttled about a mile to gates on the south side of the airport near Harbor Drive. This means passengers would have to check in much, much earlier to ensure that they – and their bags – get to the plane on time.

Initially, passengers and baggage would have to travel a circuitous route around the east end of the runway beneath incoming flights. Ultimately, the plan calls for digging an expensive tunnel under the runway to shorten the distance between the north-side terminals and the south-side gates. Such a tunnel would require 24-hour pumping of the shallow water table alongside San Diego Bay. And there is no guarantee the Federal Aviation Administration would approve a tunnel, because of the potential disruption to Lindbergh Field's single runway. A construction mishap could shut down the entire airport for a prolonged period.

Such bifurcated operations would impose enormous additional costs on the airlines, which would have to staff personnel on both sides of the airport. This assumes that financially troubled carriers would agree to such inefficient operations, which is doubtful. The higher costs of moving tons of baggage such large distances would be a nightmare for the airlines, which only now are beginning to voice their concerns. The overhaul plan was devised without their input.

Lindbergh Field's current convenience would be sacrificed, and passengers would pay higher costs for the inconvenience. Passenger facility charges – a per-ticket fee – would increase and carriers would impose higher fares to cover their higher operating costs. An additional rental car tax and higher parking fees also would boost the cost of flying out of or into San Diego.

In sum, the $11.2 billion outlay to redo Lindbergh Field would make it far less traveler-friendly than it is today.